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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RAM-, pref. Also rum-. Used with intensive force before words which gen. imply something forcible, vigorous or disorderly. See Ramfeezle, Ramscooter, Ramsheucht, Ramstacker, Ramstageous, Ramstoorie, Ramstougar, Ramstuggen, Ramtanglement, Rumballiach, Rumgumption.
[Etym. doubtful. Phs. orig. from the 16th-c. Eng. cant adj. rum, rome, good, excellent, great, but in some cases influenced by ram, the male sheep, connoting blundering, headstrong, violent.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Ram- prefix". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ram_prefix>